Sri Lanka Under19s in box seat

2nd Youth Test  

Malsha Tharupathi cracked 70 runs in 49 balls to propel Sri Lanka Under19s to a commanding position before taking two wickets in the West Indies Under19s second innings as the hosts took firm control of the second Youth Test at Dambulla on Wednesday.

Commencing from the overnight score of 191 for four wickets Sri Lanka Under 19s posted 326 runs thanks to the late order heroics. Tharupathi cracked six fours and four sixes in his knock and was involved in an 81 runs partnership for the eighth wicket with Vihas Thewmika who remained unbeaten on 31 runs.

In their second essay, the visitors lost four wickets before they closed their first innings deficit as bowlers led by Vihas Thewmika took control of the proceedings. While Thewmika took three wickets, Tharupathi and Kaveesha Piyumal grabbed two wickets each.

Jordan Johnson who has been consistent throughout the series was involved in a lone battle for the West Indies as he anchored the batting line up with an unbeaten 133 runs which came in 136 balls.  He scored 16 fours and a six.

With two days to go Sri Lanka Under 19s had the edge at stumps.

Scores:  

West Indies

U19s 127 and 251 for 8 in 63 overs (Stephan Pascal 25, Steve Wedderburn 37, Jordan Johnson 133n.o.; Kaveesha Piyumal 2/55, Vihas Thewmika 3/55, Malsha Tharupathi 2/44) 

Sri Lanka

U19s 191 for 4 overnight 326 all out in 77.5 overs (Pulindu Perera 41, Ravishan de Silva 43, Rusanda Gamage 58, Dinura Kalupahana 33, Sharujan Shanmuganathan 36, Malsha Tharupathi70, Vihas Thewmika 31n.o.; Isai Thorne 2/64, Tarrique Edward 2/75, Nathan Sealy 4/82)